Actor Phillip Salvador, Go, Dela Rosa formalize Senate bid

MANILA: The senatorial bets of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP)- actor Phillip Salvador and reelectionists Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald Dela Rosa- filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) on Thursday.

The three, who were accompanied by Senator Robinhood Padilla, formalized their Senate bid on the third day of the COC filing period at the Manila Hotel Tent City.

Should he secure a seat, Salvador said he would back an increase in funds for the modernization of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He said he would also support bills and programs for the effective rehabilitation of illegal drug users.

‘Hulihin sila para mabigyan sila ng pag-asa. Sa akin kasi ayoko ng hinuli ko pinatay ko, ayoko ng ganoon- gusto ko mabigyan sila ng pag-asa (They must be captured and given hope. For me, I oppose the act of arresting and killing in the process, I don”t want that- I want to give them hope),’ he said.

‘Kailangan maiayos ang mga may pangangailangan sa buhay
, tanggalin natin ang kahirapan, tulungan natin silang magkatrabaho hindi sila magiisip na mapunta sa droga (We need to help provide for those who are needy, remove poverty, and assist those who need work so that they will not turn to illegal drugs),’ he said.

Dela Rosa, on the other hand, said he wants another chance at the Senate to continue his ‘fight against illegal drugs’ and support the development of a credible Philippine defense posture.

If reelected, he said he would also push for the passage of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and a measure imposing death penalty on high-level drug traffickers.

‘Ang pending ko pa na mabigat ay ‘yong restoration of death penalty for high-level drug traffickers. Medyo hirap ako diyan pero rest assured hindi ako hihinto diyan, ipaglalaban ko iyan sa next Congress kung ako ay susuwertihin (What”s still pending is the restoration of death penalty for high-level drug traffickers. If luck is with me, I will continue defending it in the next Congress)’ h
e said.

Meanwhile, Go said his priorities will remain focused on advancing health, sports, and the empowerment of the youth.

In past years, Go touted that he was able to author 15 laws, and co-author/co-sponsor 164 legislations.

‘Karamihan dito ay upgrading at establishing of hospitals dahil isa sa aking adbokasiya ay health (Most of these are focused on upgrading and establishing of hospitals because one of my advocacies is health),” he said.

‘Uunahin ko ang kalusugan, food security, trabaho at kabuhayan, pabahay, edukasyon, at syempre sports at kabataan- isang paraan na labanan natin ang illegal na droga ay through sports (I will prioritize health, food security, employment and livelihood, housing, education, and of course sports and the youth),” he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency